“Wow. You’ve made progress.” His voice echoed in the now empty spaces.
That’s because I’m working my tail off. But again, that was impolite to say, so she held her tongue. She didn’t bite it, because she had enough pain right now. Though she’d taken on a large amount of the physical work around the estate, it had not prepared her for all the lifting, dragging and pulling of packing up her childhood home. Her muscles cried out every night for a soak in her mother’s deep tub, but even that didn’t relieve the now constant ache in her arms, thighs and back. Definitely hard on her back but great for weight loss.
He glanced down the hallway toward the back of the house. “Is your father here?”
She shook her head. “Why? Worried?”
“Nope.” Again with the cute grin, which was making her suspicious. Why was he being so nice? “Just didn’t figure it was good for him to get all riled up.”
For some reason, she felt the need to defend her parent, even though Mason was right. “He hardly ever does anymore. Not like he used to. He had a heart episode about six years back that forcibly taught him the consequences of not controlling his temper.” She gave him a saccharine smile. “I guess you’re just special.” Or inspired a special kind of hatred maybe.
“Always have been,” he said. If he’d caught the insult, he let it roll off him.
His nonchalant handling of everything she said made her even angrier. Luckily, she was used to holding her emotions deep inside.
“Actually, I finished moving them to an assisted living facility yesterday.”
Mason’s raised eyebrow prompted her to explain. “I chose to put them there because at least I’ll know there’s someone to look out for them. Even though I feel that someone should be me.” The place had cost a small fortune, but she was hoping being out from under the crippling mortgage payments would help. Now, what did she do about herself? Well, she hadn’t figured that out yet.
Hopefully she’d find something soon, or she might just break down in a panic attack. She hadn’t been kidding when she said the first and last month’s rental deposits put most places out of her range. The fact that she didn’t even have friends she could call on to let her sleep on their couch made her feel lost and alone.
“Do you work?” Mason asked.
The change in conversation came from out of the blue. “What?”
“A job. Do you have one?”
His tone implied she didn’t even know what one was. She certainly wasn’t going to tell him about the new career she was building. He would probably think she was crazy or arrogant to believe she could make a living off her unique voice.
“Taking care of my parents and this place was my job,” she answered, even though most people didn’t view it that way. Mason probably wouldn’t either, even though it had been damn harder than a lot of things she could have done. And asking one of the families they knew in the area for a job would have meant exposing her parents’ failure to their world. She’d chosen not to go against their wishes.
True to form, Mason asked, “How’d that work out for you?”
“I did the best I could,” she said through gritted teeth.
“Think you could do better with a better boss and actual resources?”
Now she was really confused. “What?”
He turned away, once again inspecting the rooms. “My brother and I have plans—big plans. To establish our stables is a simple matter of quality stock, training and talent.” He turned back, giving her a glimpse of his passion for this project. Guess buying this estate wasn’t only about revenge.
“Establishing a reputation—that’s a whole different story,” he said, his gaze narrowing, “and we don’t have the breeding to back it up.”
She knew all too well how hard it was to keep and make contacts within society here—after all, her father had kept his illness a secret in order to protect his own social reputation. It took two things to break into the inner circle around here: breeding and money. Preferably both. But they’d accept just the money if someone was filthy rich.
“We can fast-track it—after all, money makes a big first impression.”
A surreal feeling swept through EvaMarie. Honestly, she couldn’t imagine she was talking to the same boy who’d held her so long ago. Sure, he’d talked horses and racing. She’d known he’d wanted to own his own stables one day—but money had never come up. Then.
They’d both been naïve to think it hadn’t mattered.
“Which means we will be turning this into a showplace,” Mason said, sweeping his hand to indicate the room.
“What does that have to do with me?”
He cocked his head to the side, a lock of his thick hair falling over his forehead. “You’ve lived here all your life?”
She nodded, afraid to speak. His sudden attention made her feel like a wild animal being lowered into a trap.
“I bet you know this place better than anyone.”
“The house and the land,” she said, feeling a pang of sadness she forced herself to ignore.
“So you could come to work for me. Help with the renovations. Prepare for the launch. I’ll even give you more time to move everything.”
Her heart started to pound as she studied him. “Why?” Revenge? Everything in her was saying to run. Why else could he possibly want this?
“I need a housekeeper. I’m assuming you need a job,” Mason said with a nonchalant shrug. “You need time to figure this all out. That’s what you were asking for, right?”
Regardless, working with him every day? Watching him take over her only home and never being able to show her true emotions for fear he would use them as a weapon against her? The last few encounters had been experience enough. No, thank you.
She shook her head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“You don’t?” He stepped closer. “Seems to me you’re about to be out of a home, income... What’s the matter? Afraid your friends will find out you have to get your hands dirty for money?”
That was the least of her worries. Her parents had feared that—yes—but not her.
He moved even closer, giving her a quick whiff of a spicy aftershave. Why was he doing that? Suddenly she couldn’t breathe.
“I’ll give you a job and a place to live. Sounds a whole lot better than the alternative, don’t you think? And in return I get someone who can make this renovation move even faster.”
Looking into his bright blue eyes, she wasn’t so sure she agreed. There had to be a catch in there somewhere...but she truly wasn’t in a position to turn him down.
EvaMarie smoothed down her hair, wishing she could calm her insides just as easily when she heard Mason come through the side door. From the sound of other voices, he wasn’t alone.
This time she was prepared.
Or so she thought. First she caught sight of Mason’s brother, Kane, who had filled out just as much as his brother. The two men were like solid bookends; carbon copies with broad shoulders and muscles everywhere. If only Mason’s shoulders were available for resting on. How incredible would it feel to have someone to rely on for a change? To lean against his back, feel his bare skin against hers, run her fingers down along those pecs—
Whoops. Not the direction she should